49ERS: WEEK 3 / Game review

Published 11:31 pm, Sunday, September 22, 2013

Offense

Without TE Vernon Davis, Colin Kaepernick had one proven pass-catcher, Anquan Boldin, and he spent much of the afternoon scanning the field for WRs who never broke open. Kaepernick posted a 49.9 passer rating and had 64 of his 150 passing yards on a final garbage-time drive that ended with an INT. Kyle Williams (2 catches, 12 yards) was the only WR besides Boldin with a catch. RB Frank Gore (11 carries, 82 yards) was a lone bright spot.

Defense

What happened to that impenetrable front seven? The Colts rushed for 179 yards, averaged 4.6 yards a carry and had three rushing scores, as many as the 49ers allowed during the 2011 regular season. They didn't force a turnover and penalties on CBs Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers helped Indianapolis sustain a key fourth-quarter TD drive.

Special Teams

The 49ers replaced Perrish Cox as their kickoff returner after the CB lost a fumble in Week 2, but Kendall Hunter (2 returns, 29 yards) and Quinton Patton (1, 7) didn't provide a spark. A sign of the offensive issues: Andy Lee's seven punts were his most since Dec. 11, 2011, and placekicker Phil Dawson didn't attempt a FG and had two kickoffs, both resulting in touchbacks.

Coaching

The 49ers ended their only TD drive with runs of 22, 11, 21, -3 and 13 yards on five of their final six plays in the first quarter and were seemingly ready to gouge an injury riddled defense that ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed in 2012. Instead, Gore had just seven carries in the final 50 minutes.

OVERALL

It can't be quantified, but it's hard to imagine that Aldon Smith's early morning arrest two days before kickoff didn't have an affect. The 49ers were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter and Gore's noncommittal response was telling when asked about the overall team effort.

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